Holding device for a shower attachment

ABSTRACT

A feed-through for a shower hose contains in the feed-through a securing mechanism, which is configured such that it definitely allows the hose to be pulled out, yet prevents it from being pulled back. In order to release the securing mechanism, a second tug is made on the hose, so that, when it is next pulled back, it can then be pulled inward through the feed-through.

The invention relates to a holding device for a shower hose, inparticular a shower hose for use in a washstand or the like.

It is known that, especially in horizontal-running washstands, the handshower is supplied with water via a hose which is led through afeed-through in the washstand. When not in use, the hand shower sits inthe feed-through itself and the hose hangs down beneath the washstand.Often an apparatus is present for pulling the hose back through thefeed-through (DE 3901007).

It has been shown that the automatic retraction of the shower hose cansometimes be annoying, especially if the hose is only briefly put asideto do something else. On the other hand, the retraction of the hose is,in itself, very sensible.

The object of the invention is to provide a facility for improving theusage advantages of such a hand shower.

In order to achieve this object, the invention proposes a holding devicehaving the features stated in claim 1. Refinements of the invention arethe subject of subclaims.

In the case of horizontal-running washstands in which the feed-throughtherefore runs vertically, the hose is frequently retracted under itsown weight. Through the fitting of a retaining mechanism, it now becomespossible to prevent the automatic retraction. The retaining mechanismprovided for this purpose is sensible, of course, not only for use inhorizontal-running washstands with vertically running feed-through, butalso in all types of hose devices in which the hose is required to beretracted for practicability reasons. The invention combines theadvantage of automatic retraction of the hose with the facility toswitch off this automatic mechanism under certain circumstances.

According to the invention, it can be envisioned in a refinement of theinvention that the retaining mechanism is disposed on or in thefeed-through element. There is therefore no need for any additionaldevices which are visible at least on the outside and which wouldcomplicate or add to the cost of the construction.

The invention proposes that the coupling can be actuated manually byaction upon the feed-through element itself. This could be done suchthat, for example, the retraction is normally prevented, yet that theretraction could be triggered by actuating an actuating element or evenjust by twisting a part of the feed-through element.

The retaining mechanism serves primarily, of course, to prevent theretraction of the hose. It is also conceivable, however, to design aretaining mechanism such that it prevents movement of the hose in bothdirections.

In a further refinement, it can be envisioned that the coupling for therelease or actuation of the retaining mechanism can be actuated bymanipulation of the hose itself.

This could be done, for example, such that a quick release of the hosealways results in locking, which can be unlocked again by a short tug onthe hose. A slow release of the hose could then lead to automaticretraction.

Another option also proposed by the invention consists in designing thecoupling such that it are released by pulling on the hose andre-actuated by renewed pulling on the hose.

A third option for actuating the coupling by pulling on the hose canconsist in a short tug releasing the coupling, while a pull over alonger distance causes it to engage.

The retaining mechanism can achieve the securement of the hose in the atleast one direction in a wide variety of ways. Since a shower hoseusually consists of a rubbery material, for its securement a forceclosure can be used which somewhat deforms the shower hose. A relativelysimple design can achieve this.

Another option for retaining the shower hose consists in it being heldat least partially by form closure. This option lends itself tostandardly coiled or ribbed shower hoses.

Since the retaining mechanism is meant to be able also to free the hoseagain by use of the coupling, it can be configured, for example, suchthat it arrests the hose only in a certain rotary position of the hoserelative to the retaining mechanism, while in another rotary position itlets it through. Here the decoupling would also consist in twisting theshower hose, or a part connected to the shower hose, by a certain angle.

For the realization of such a design, it can be envisioned that theretaining mechanism has a sleeve, which, at one position at least, hasan inwardly projecting oblique surface. This oblique surface can beperceived as a wedge surface or as a cam, which another part can run upagainst in order thereby to arrest the hose.

In the rest of the circumferential region, the sleeve can have aconfiguration in which the internal diameter is not reduced, i.e.remains, for example, cylindrical.

In one refinement, the retaining mechanism can have a clamping sleeve,which is guided in the outer sleeve so as to be movable to a limiteddegree and, at one circumferential position at least, has a projectionprotruding outward over the rest of the clamping sleeve.

This projection can cooperate with the oblique surface of the outersleeve to produce the clamping effect.

The outer sleeve of the securing mechanism can, in particular, form apart of the feed-through element.

The projection of the clamping sleeve can extend, for example, only overa part of the circumference of the clamping sleeve, while no projectionis then present over the rest of the circumference. A plurality of suchprojections can also be present.

The circumferential extent of the projections, or, indeed, of just asingle projection, can advantageously be chosen such that it is smallerthan the gap between the oblique surfaces of the outer sleeve measuredin the circumferential direction. The clamping sleeve can then betwisted into a position in which no engagement exists between theprojections and oblique surfaces, which therefore corresponds to arelease position. In another rotary position, the engagement thenoccurs.

In a further refinement of the finding, the projection can be arrangedso as to be movable in the radial direction, for example configured on aflexible part. When the projection moves radially inward, a partconnected thereto, or, indeed, its radial inner side, can enter into aforce closure and/or form closure with the hose led through the clampingsleeve. The cooperation between projection and oblique surface thereforealso simultaneously results in the clamping sleeve being secured on thehose.

For example, the projection can be configured on a molded-on tongue ofthe clamping sleeve. This tongue can additionally also serve to producea slight force closure between the hose and the clamping sleeve in thelongitudinal direction of the hose.

It is likewise possible and lies within the scope of the invention thatthe at least one projection is configured on a separate component, whichis then fitted to the clamping sleeve. This separate component, too, canbe configured such that rear side of the projection simultaneously formsthe part which enters into force closure and/or form closure with theshower hose.

The clamping sleeve, which forms a part of the retaining mechanism, canbe designed such that, when the hose is moved, it is carried along withit, at least in the longitudinal direction of the hose. The coupling canthereby be actuated by movement of the hose.

In a further refinement of the invention, between the outer sleeve andthe clamping sleeve a connecting link guide can be present, which alignsthe at least one projection of the clamping sleeve alternately eitherwith the oblique surface of the outer sleeve or with the interspacebetween the oblique surfaces.

This connecting link guide can have, for example, a connecting link onthe outer sleeve and at least one pin on the clamping sleeve, which pincooperates with the connecting link. In particular, the connecting linkguide can be configured such that it extends over a full circumference,i.e. allows the clamping sleeve to be fully twisted. When the hose isfirst pulled, the clamping sleeve is therefore brought outward into aposition from which it is brought into the locking position when thehose is retracted. Upon repeated pulling of the hose, the clampingsleeve is then rotated once again, so that it then enters into therelease position.

It would also be conceivable for the clamping sleeve, owing to theconnecting link guide, to be rotated constantly to and fro.

Since only a small force closure is present between the clamping sleeveand the shower hose, the constant rotation in one direction does not,however, lead to torsioning of the hose, since this can reset itselfover and over again.

Further features, details and preferences of the invention emerge fromthe claims and the abstract, both of whose wording is formulated byreference to the content of the description, the following descriptionof preferred embodiments of the invention and with reference to thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically, in partially cut representation, the devicefor leading a shower hose through a horizontal-running board;

FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, the feed-through with the holdingdevice;

FIG. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a developed projection of theconnecting link guide;

FIG. 4 shows the position between the hose and the retaining mechanismin the release position;

FIG. 5 shows the position of the shower hose as it is retracted;

FIG. 6 shows the position of the shower hose in the clamped setting;

FIG. 7 shows the perspective view of a clamping sleeve placed onto theshower hose;

FIG. 8 shows the representation of FIG. 7 with outer sleeve threadedover the clamping sleeve;

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the clamping sleeve;

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through the clamping sleeve of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 shows a cross section through the clamping sleeve of FIG. 9along the line XI-XI;

FIG. 12 shows a second cross section through the clamping sleeve of FIG.9 along the line XII-XII;

FIG. 13 shows a third cross section through the clamping sleeve of FIG.9 along the line XIII-XIII; and

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the clamping sleeve of FIGS. 9 to13.

FIG. 1 shows a section through a holding device according to theinvention. The holding device contains a feed-through element 1, whichis configured for insertion into an opening in a horizontal-runningboard. The feed-through element 1 contains a part 2 to be disposed abovethe surface of the board and having an obliquely running mounting 3,into which the cone part 4, for example of a hand shower, can beinserted. This cone part 4 is retained in the mounting 3. The cone part4 is formed by a union nut, which is fitted on the end of a shower hose5. The shower hose 5 runs through the feed-through element 1. Itcontains below its visible part 2 a socket 6, which ends in a supportingshoulder 7.

Inserted from below into the feed-through part or its socket 6 is anextension part 8, which is snap-locked with a circumferential rim 9 intothe inner side of the socket 6. The extension part 8 ends in a lughaving an external thread 10, see FIG. 2. Screwed into this externalthread 10 is a coupling sleeve 11 of a protective tubing 12. Theprotective tubing 12 surrounds the shower hose 5. The protective tubing12 contains inside it a helical compression spring, which rests againstthe upper end of the coupling sleeve 11, while at the lower end, itrests with a connector against the connecting part of the shower hose 5.The helical compression spring 13, which is only indicated, attempts todirect the shower hose 5 straight and consequently pulls it downward, sothat the cone nut 4 is pulled into the mounting 3.

Inserted within the extension part 8 is an outer sleeve 14 of aretaining mechanism, which is made up of a top part 14 a and a bottompart 14 b. The top part 14 a contains in its upper region a curved innerwall 15, against which the shower hose bears. In the region of the lowerend, the bottom part 14 b of the outer sleeve contains a plurality ofinwardly directed projections 16, of which two are visible in FIG. 2.Disposed between the top and bottom part 14 a, 14 b of the outer sleeve14 is a connecting link guide 17, which has a plurality of jags anddepressions between the jags. A developed projection of the connectinglink guide 17 is represented in FIG. 3.

The shape of the connecting link is now explained with reference to FIG.3. The lower connecting link begins, starting on the right, with anoblique curve path 18, which is adjoined by a U with parallel sidebranches. The following side branch 19 again runs parallel to thelongitudinal direction and ends in a peak 20, from which the curve pathis repeated.

The opposite connecting link takes a similar course, the obliquelyrunning portion, however, passing via an arc shape into the portionrunning parallel to the longitudinal direction.

The peaks 20 of each connecting link lie roughly in the middle betweenthe peaks 20 of the respectively other connecting link. The twoconnecting links are thus, so to speak, staggered.

An indicated pin 21, situated in the lower connecting link, makes itsway onto the oblique curve when pushed up, and then slides back into thelowest location on the other connecting link, whence it then slides backinto the next depression of the connecting link. When an indicated pin21 is pushed up and down, it is therefore advanced respectively by onedepression. This constitutes, therefore, a stepping mechanism.

FIGS. 4 to 6 now show the interaction of the hose 5, a clamping sleeve22 and the outer sleeve 14 in various stages. On the outer side of thehose 5 there is disposed a clamping sleeve 22, which is secured by forceclosure on the hose 5. This can best be seen in FIG. 7. If the hose isnow pulled out of the feed-through element, then the clamping sleeve 22is pushed upward until it comes to bear against a shoulder 23 of theouter sleeve. Its further displacement is thereby limited. The hose 5can be pulled further out of the feed-through element. Since the forcewith which the clamping sleeve is secured on the hose 5 is only small,the further withdrawal of the hose 5 is scarcely hindered.

If the hose is now pulled by the aforementioned spring 13 back into thefeed-through element, for example because the user lets go of the handshower, then there are in principle two options for the furtherprocedure. Depending on the original position of the pin 21 in theconnecting link, the situation represented in FIG. 5 can now arise, inwhich the clamping sleeve 22 is pushed downward. In this position, thehose can be pulled fully and without hindrance through the feed-throughelement.

In another positions, in which the clamping sleeve 22 is twistedsomewhat about the longitudinal axis of the hose, the conditionrepresented in FIG. 6 arises. Here, parts of the clamping sleeve 23 bearagainst the aforementioned projections 16 on the inner side of the outersleeve 14, so that these parts are now pressed up against the hose andsecure this. This constitutes, therefore, the locking setting of theretaining mechanism, in which the hose cannot be pulled further throughthe feed-through element.

Reference has already been made to FIG. 7, where the arrangement of theclamping sleeve 22 on the outer side of the hose 5 is represented.Roughly in the middle between the two pins 21, the clamping sleeve hasnotches having resilient tongues 24. At their upper end assigned to thehand shower, these resilient tongues 24 are molded integrally on theclamping sleeve 22, but are free in the region of their lower end. Inthe region of their lower end, they project somewhat over the outercontour of the clamping sleeve 22. Owing to the material properties,these tongues 24 are somewhat resilient, so that the deformations whichare evident in the comparison between FIGS. 4 and 6 are easily possible.

Disposed within the feed-through element is the outer sleeve, which, inthe representation of FIG. 8, is mounted on the clamping sleeve 22. Itcan here be seen that the pins 21 engage in the connecting link on theconnecting link guide. An axial movement of the hose 5 therefore resultsin the clamping sleeve also being twisted, respectively, upon its axialdisplacement.

The projections 25 formed on the ends of the tongues 24 have acircumferential extent which is roughly equal to the distance betweentwo inwardly directed oblique surfaces 16 of the outer sleeve 14.Depending on the orientation, the projection 25 can thereby be alignedwith the interspaces between the oblique surfaces 16, see FIG. 5, withthe result that the hose can be pushed through the clamping sleeve.

Upon twisting, the projections 25 of the tongues 24 then enter into anangular position in which they are aligned with the oblique surfaces 16.This is represented by FIG. 6. Here, the projections 25 bear against theoblique surfaces 16. The more strongly the hose is pulled downward, thestronger the radial pressurization of the hose in the inward directionand hence its securement.

The retaining mechanism works, therefore, as follows. First the hose ispulled out, which is possible from all positions. When the hose ispulled back downward, caused by the spring 13, the position of FIG. 6,for example, is reached, which represents a retention of the hose. Inorder then to free the hose again, the user needs only to tug briefly onthe hose, until the clamping sleeve is twisted by its pins 21 by theconnecting link guide to the point where, when the hose is released, theposition of FIG. 5 is assumed. The hose 5 can then be pulled through theclamping sleeve and hence through the feed-through without hindrance.

Whereas, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 8, the projections 25 aredisposed on the ends of one-piece tongues 24, the following figures showa clamping sleeve which is somewhat differently constructed.

Like in the preceding embodiment, the clamping sleeve 32 consists of twoparts, which are identically constructed and can be snap-lockedtogether. The clamping sleeve 32 has on its outer side two diametricallydisposed pins 21, which have the same function as in the precedingembodiment. Disposed in the notches, once again, are tongue-likeconfigurations 34, which, however, on both end faces, are integrallyconnected to the clamping sleeve 32. These slightly inwardly preformedtongues 34 serve solely to secure the clamping sleeve 32 on the hose.This securement is necessary in order that the advancement of theclamping sleeve by the connecting link guide is at all possible.

The clamping sleeve 32 has in its lower end region, i.e. that which isassigned to the installation end of the hose, a circumferential groove35, in which a clip 36 is snap-locked. The clip 36 extends over roughlyhalf the circumference. It is secured in the axial direction by thegroove 35. In the region of its two ends it has respectively aprojection 37, see FIG. 11, the projection 37 being dimensioned suchthat it projects over the rest of the circumference of the clampingsleeve in the lower region. The two projections 37 assume the functionof the projections 25 in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 7. Onthe inner sides of the clips 36 lying opposite the projections, twoaxially offset ribs 38 are configured, the axial offset of these tworibs 38 corresponding to about half the pitch of the coil of a standardshower hose. It is apparent from FIGS. 4 to 7 that the shower hose has atype of thread. When the projections 37 are displaced inward, the ribs38 come to lie between two windings of the shower hose 5, so that theythereby achieve a positive securement of the shower hose in relation tothe clamping sleeve 32.

FIG. 13, which, like FIGS. 11 and 12, shows a cross section through theclamping sleeve 32, shows how the two parts of the clamping sleeve arefastened together. Each half of a clamping sleeve has a resilientprojection 38, which engages with a boss behind an undercut in therespectively other half of the clamping sleeve.

FIG. 14 shows once again, in perspective view, a clamping sleeve 32 ofthe embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 13.

1. A holding device for a shower hose, comprising: a feed-throughelement, a shower hose with a union for a shower head, the shower hosebeing led through the feed-through element and movable through thefeed-through element from a position at which the union is at thefeed-through element, outwardly to a longitudinal position along thehose at which the union is spaced from the feed-through element, aretaining mechanism disposed in the feed-through element, the retainingmechanism having a detachable coupling structured to couple and decouplewith the shower hose for arresting and releasing the hose for movementrelative to the feed-through element, wherein the shower hose can bepulled longitudinally outwardly from the feed-through element to saidlongitudinal position, and the hose can be retained at said longitudinalposition by selectively coupling the retaining mechanism in thefeed-through element with the hose, and wherein the hose can be allowedto retract inwardly from said longitudinal position through thefeed-through element by selectively decoupling the retaining mechanism,and, wherein the detachable coupling of the retaining mechanism isactuated for said coupling and decoupling, by manual manipulation of theshower hose that causes the retaining mechanism to engage with thefeed-through element.
 2. The holding device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the coupling comprises relatively movable parts that arereleased from the shower hose by pulling outwardly on the shower hoseand engaged by renewed pulling after release.
 3. The holding device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable coupling comprises a clampingsleeve configured to secure the shower hose at least partially by forceclosure applied laterally inwardly on the shower hose.
 4. The holdingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shower hose has at least oneof a ribbed and coiled form, and the detachable coupling secures theshower hose at least partially by form closure with the shower hoseform.
 5. The holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainingmechanism comprises relatively rotatable parts configured such that theretaining mechanism secures the shower hose only in a certain rotaryposition and in another rotary position lets the shower hose through,and wherein said parts are relatively rotated by engagement of theretaining mechanism and the feed-through element.
 6. The holding deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism has a sleeve,which, at one position at least, has an inwardly projecting obliquesurface.
 7. The holding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in therest of a circumferential region apart from the inwardly projectingoblique surface, the sleeve has a configuration in which the internaldiameter is not reduced.
 8. The holding device as claimed in claim 6,wherein the sleeve comprises an outer sleeve and the retaining mechanismhas a clamping sleeve, which is guided in the outer sleeve so as to bemovable to a limited degree and, at one circumferential position atleast, has an outwardly protruding projection.
 9. The holding device asclaimed in claim 8, wherein a circumferential extent of the projectionis smaller than a circumferential extent of a portion of the outersleeve that is free from the oblique surface.
 10. The holding device asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the projection is configured so as to beflexible in a radial direction.
 11. The holding device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the projection, upon radial movement inward, entersinto at least one of force and form closure with the shower hose (5) ledthrough the clamping sleeve.
 12. The holding device as claimed in claim8, wherein the projection is configured on a molded-on tongue of theclamping sleeve.
 13. The holding device as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe projection is configured on a separate component.
 14. The holdingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping sleeve is configuredsuch that, when the shower hose is moved, the clamping sleeve is carriedalong with the shower hose in a longitudinal direction.
 15. The holdingdevice as claimed in claim 8, comprising a connecting link guide betweenthe outer sleeve and the clamping sleeve, which aligns at least one saidprojection of the clamping sleeve alternately with at least one saidoblique surface and an interspace with the at least one said obliquesurface.
 16. The holding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein theconnecting link guide has a connecting link on the outer sleeve and atleast one pin on the clamping sleeve.
 17. The holding device as claimedin claim 15, wherein the connecting link guide allows a full rotation ofthe clamping sleeve.